Recommendations made to stop fascists from contesting polls, returning to parliament: Badiul

The Electoral Reform Commission has recommended making necessary reformations so that fascists will not be able to return, contest the national elections and take seats in the parliament, said the commission's chief Badiul Alam Majumder today (18 January).

"The political arena must be freed from the influence of criminals…," he said while addressing a seminar at the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) in Cumilla. 

He said the commission has recommended that the country's political environment must be cleansed, ensuring that criminals who have killed people, carried out extrajudicial killings, engaged in various forms of oppression and torture, or committed crimes against humanity are not allowed to join any political party or play any role in politics.

During last year's student-led mass uprising, nearly 2,000 people lost their lives and around 25,000 to 30,000 people were injured, Badiul said. "Many lost their eyesight, and some became disabled. We must work towards ensuring that their bloodshed does not go in vain."

Regarding their recommendations, he said, "For about three and a half months, eight of us in the Electoral Reform Commission thoroughly reviewed all laws and regulations. After various processes, we made around 150 recommendations to strengthen the electoral system.

"We have made several suggestions concerning the qualifications and disqualifications of election participants. We recommended that those involved in corruption, crimes against humanity, or extrajudicial killings should not be allowed to participate in elections."

Organised by the Cumilla Bachao Mancha, the seminar was held on the evaluation and approval of a paper on the Dream Megacity Cumilla and AHK Satellite City. 

The working paper was presented by former MP and BNP chairperson's Adviser Monirul Haq Chowdhury.

Other speakers at the seminar included Senior Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun of the Supreme Court, BARD's Additional Director General Dr Abdul Karim, Executive Officer of the District Council Nazrul Islam, Cumilla City Corporation Engineer Abu Sayem Majumdar, Cumilla Bachao Mancha President Advocate Golam Faruk, and General Secretary Advocate Motaleb Hossain Majumdar.